Packet of cigarettes and relative production method

ABSTRACT

A packet ( 2 ) of cigarettes and relative production method, wherein a label ( 7 ), defined at least partly by a portion ( 8 ) of magnetic tape, is applied to a component ( 3   a,    16, 20 ) of the packet ( 2 ) so as to be visible on the outside of the finished packet ( 2 ); the label ( 7 ) being printed, on the machine and by means of a printing device ( 34 ), with data relating to the packet ( 2 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a packet of, cigarettes.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to aparallelepiped-shaped packet of cigarettes comprising an outer packagenormally formed by folding sheet material, and an inner wrapping of foilor paper wrapped about a group of cigarettes.

[0003] Here and hereinafter, the term “outer package” is used toindicate an outer wrapping normally formed from a sheet of paper or froma blank of cardboard or similar; or an overwrapping formed from a sheetof transparent material; or the above outer wrapping and overwrappingcombined.

BACKGROUND ART

[0004] In patent EP 317,202, a packet of the type described above isprovided with a portion of magnetic tape visible from the outside, andon which is recorded data unequivocally identifying the packet. In otherwords, the portion of magnetic tape constitutes for the packet, amongother things, a certificate of origin making any attempt to counterfeitthe packet extremely complicated and expensive.

[0005] To produce such a packet, packing machines are provided with aline for supplying a prerecorded magnetic tape, from which portionscontaining the data relative to the packets are cut off successively.

[0006] Together with the data recorded on the respective portion ofmagnetic tape, it is often desirable to also provide each packet withdata of interest, not so much to the maker or retailer, as to theconsumer, such as the date of manufacture and, more importantly, apossible sell-by date.

[0007] Obviously, consumer-directed data cannot be recorded magneticallyon the magnetic tape, by requiring special reading devices for it to beread; and neither can it be prerecorded, since information such as thesell-by date of the packet can only be applied to the packet when it isactually produced.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a packet ofcigarettes designed to provide consumers with all necessary informationin clear text, in a low-cost manner and with substantially noalterations to existing packing machines.

[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a packet ofcigarettes comprising a number of sheet material packing componentsfolded and assembled to one another to define an inner wrapping and anouter package; and a label applied to at least one of said packingcomponents and visible on the outside of said packet; characterized inthat at least one portion of said label is defined by a portion ofmagnetic data recording tape; said label having printed graphic signs.

[0010] The present invention also relates to a method of producing apacket of cigarettes.

[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided a method ofproducing a packet of cigarettes, the method comprising the first stepsof folding and assembling to one another a number of sheet materialcomponents to define an inner wrapping and an outer package; and asecond step of supplying and applying a label to at least one of saidcomponents, so that the label is visible on the outside of the saidpacket; said label being at least partly defined by a portion ofmagnetic data recording tape; and the method being characterized bycomprising the further step of printing graphic signs on said labelduring or after said second step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present inventionwill be described by way of example with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a schematic view in perspective, partly in blockform, of a portion of a production line of a machine for producing afirst embodiment of the packet according to the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a schematic view in perspective, partly in blockform, of a portion of a production line of a machine for producing asecond embodiment of the packet according to the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 3 shows a larger-scale view of a detail of the secondembodiment of the packet according to the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 4 shows a schematic view in perspective, partly in blockform, of a variation of the FIG. 1 production line.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole a line for producingpackets 2, each of which is substantially parallelepiped-shaped andhouses a group of cigarettes (not shown) enclosed in an inner wrapping 3made by folding a sheet 3 a of foil in known manner.

[0018] Each packet 2 comprises an outer package 4, which, in the exampleshown, comprises an outer wrapping 5 about inner wrapping 3, and anoverwrapping 6 of transparent material—in the example shown,polypropylene—covering outer wrapping 5.

[0019] Packet 2 also comprises a label 7 defined by a portion 8 ofmagnetic data recording tape, which, in the specific example shown, isconnected to outer wrapping 5 and has graphic signs 9 visible on theoutside of packet 2 and containing, for example, the date of manufactureof packet 2.

[0020] In variations not shown, label 7 is connected to overwrapping 6,or—in the event packet 2 is a so-called “soft” pack, in which part ofinner wrapping 3 is visible on the outside—is connected astride outerwrapping 5 and inner wrapping 3.

[0021] Line 1 comprises a known supply line 10 in turn comprising asupport 11 for a reel 12, from which a continuous strip 13 of sheetmaterial is unwound and fed by a conveyor 14 to a cutting station 15where strip 13 is converted into a succession of sheets 16 of packingmaterial.

[0022] In a variation not shown, line 10 is replaced by a known line(not shown) for supplying precut sheets 16 of packing material defined,for example, by blanks.

[0023] Each sheet 16 of packing material is fed by a conveyor 17 to theinput of a known packing wheel 18 forming part of line 1, and by whichsheet 16 of packing material is folded about a respective inner wrapping3 to form respective outer wrapping 5.

[0024] On a known cellophaning machine 19 downstream from packing wheel18 and forming part of line 1, outer wrapping 5 is then covered with asheet 20 of transparent overwrapping material, which is folded in knownmanner about outer wrapping 5 to form overwrapping 6 and so completeouter package 4.

[0025] Line 1 also comprises a line 21 for supplying portions 8, andwhich in turn comprises a support 22 for a reel 23, from which isunwound a continuous magnetic tape 24, one surface 25 of which iscoated, in the example shown, with an optional layer 26 of lacquer. Onthe opposite side to surface 25, tape 24 has a surface 27, which is coldgummed and protected by a nonstick strip 28, which is unwound togetherwith tape 24 and guided by a guide roller 29 along a collecting path R.

[0026] Tape 24 is fed by two rollers 30 to a cutting station 31 where itis cut into a succession of portions 8. Portions 8 so formed are thenfed onto a conveyor 32 preferably a nonstick suction conveyor—by whichthey are accelerated to separate them by a distance equal to the lengthof a sheet 16 of packing material before being fed by a conveyor 33 ontothe outer surface of strip 13 on conveyor 14. Strip 13, together withportions 8, is then fed by conveyor 14 through cutting station 15, andthe resulting sheets 16 of packing material are fed by conveyor 17 ontopacking wheel 18.

[0027] Along line 1 and upstream from conveyor 33, there is provided aprinting device 34—optical, ink-jet or other type—for printing graphicsigns 9 on surface 25 of each portion 8.

[0028] As shown in the variations indicated by the dash lines in FIG. 1,printing device 34 may be located anywhere along line 1 permittingon-line printing of graphic signs 9 on portions 8.

[0029] As an alternative to line 1, FIG. 2 shows a production line 35,the parts of which are indicated, wherever possible, using the samereference numbers as for the corresponding parts of line 1.

[0030] Line 35 produces a succession of packets 2, each having a label7, which is integral with outer wrapping 5 and, as shown more clearly inFIG. 3, is defined by a rectangular portion 36 of paper to which isconnected a rectangular magnetic portion 8 smaller than portion 36. Thepart of portion 36 not occupied by portion 8 comprises a portion bearinggraphic signs 9, which are printed on portion 36 by printing device 34.

[0031] Line 35 is similar to line 1, except that line 21 supplyingportions 8 on line 1 is replaced by a line 37, which, in addition toline 21, also comprises a further line 38 located upstream from line 21and for supplying portions 36.

[0032] Line 38 comprises a support 39 for a reel 40, from which isunwound a continuous strip 41 of paper material, one surface 42 of whichis cold gummed and protected by a nonstick strip 43, which is unwoundtogether with strip 41 and guided by a guide roller 44 along acollecting path R1.

[0033] Continuous strip 41 is guided by a roller 45 onto a conveyor46—preferably a nonstick suction conveyor—by which continuous strip 41is fed through a cutting station 47 to obtain a continuous succession ofportions 36. Portions 36 are transferred to a conveyor 48, by which theyare accelerated and spaced a given distance apart. And to each portion36 is applied a respective portion 8, which, at the output of line 21,is accelerated by a conveyor 50 and applied to respective portion 36 bya roller 49.

[0034] Each label 7 so formed is transferred by a conveyor 51 to aconveyor 52, by which it is accelerated and separated from the adjacentlabels 7 by a distance equal to the length of a sheet 16 of packingmaterial, before being fed by conveyor 33 to the input of line 10.

[0035]FIG. 4 shows a production line 53 similar to line 1, except that,as opposed to being arranged in series, lines 10 and 21 may be arrangedparallel. More specifically, on line 53, line 10 (not shown in FIG. 4)supplies sheets 16 of packing material (not shown in FIG. 4) to packingwheel 18 (not shown in FIG. 4), which forms and supplies outer wrappings5 to cellophaning machine 19 (not shown in FIG. 4) to form overwrappings6 and so complete outer packages 4. As packets 2 are conveyed on aconveying wheel 54 upstream or downstream from cellophaning machine 19,a label 7, fed onto wheel 54 by line 21 and conveyor 33, is applied tooverwrapping 6 or to the outer surface of outer wrapping 5 of eachpacket 2.

[0036] In a variation not shown, line 21 of production line 53 isreplaced by a line 37.

[0037] In a further variation not shown, tape 24 of line 21 is lacqueredon the machine by a lacquering device (not shown) downstream from reel23.

1) A packet of cigarettes comprising a number of sheet material packingcomponents (3 a, 16, 20) folded and assembled to one another to definean inner wrapping (3) and an outer package (4); and a label (7) appliedto at least one of said packing components (3 a, 16, 20) and visible onthe outside of said packet (2); characterized in that at least oneportion of said label (7) is defined by a portion (8) of magnetic datarecording tape; said label (7) having printed graphic signs (9). 2) Apacket as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said outer package(4) comprises an outer wrapping (5); said label (7) being applied to anouter surface of said outer wrapping (5). 3) A packet as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that said outer package (4) comprises an outerwrapping (5), and an overwrapping (6) of transparent material coveringsaid outer wrapping (5); said label (7) being applied to saidoverwrapping (6). 4) A packet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3,characterized in that said label (7) is defined entirely by a portion(8) of magnetic tape.) 5) A packet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to4, characterized in that said graphic signs (9) are printed on saidportion (8) of magnetic tape. 6) A packet as claimed in any one ofclaims 1 to 5, characterized in that said portion (8) of magnetic tapecomprises a layer (26) of lacquer; said graphic signs (9) being printedon said layer (26) of lacquer. 7) A packet as claimed in any one ofclaims 1 to 4, characterized in that said label (7) comprises a portion(36) of sheet material; said portion (8) of magnetic tape being appliedto said portion (36) of sheet material. 8) A packet as claimed in claim7, characterized in that said graphic signs (9) are printed on saidportion (36) of sheet material. 9) A method of producing a packet (2) ofcigarettes, the method comprising the first steps of folding andassembling to one another a number of sheet material components (3 a,16, 20) to define an inner wrapping (3) and an outer package (4); and asecond step of supplying and applying a label (7) to at least one ofsaid components (3 a, 16, 20), so that the label (7) is visible on theoutside of the said packet (2); said label (7) being at least partlydefined by a portion (8) of magnetic data recording tape; and the methodbeing characterized by comprising the further step of printing graphicsigns (9) on said label (7) during or after said second step. 10) Amethod as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said outer package(4) comprises an outer wrapping (5); said label (7) being applied to anouter surface of that (16) of said components (3 a, 16, 20) used to formsaid outer wrapping (5). 11) A method as claimed in claim 9,characterized in that said outer package (4) comprises an outer wrapping(5), and an overwrapping (6) of transparent material; said label (7)being applied to that (20) of said components (3 a, 16, 20) used to formsaid overwrapping (6). 12) A method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to11, characterized in that said label (7) is applied to said component (3a; 16; 20) before said first steps are performed. 13) A method asclaimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said label(7) is applied to said component (3 a; 16; 20) after said first stepsare performed. 14) A method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13,characterized in that said graphic signs (9) are printed on said portion(8) of magnetic tape. 15) A method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to13, characterized in that said label (7) comprises a portion (36) ofsheet material; said portion (8) of magnetic tape being connected tosaid portion (36) of sheet material. 16) A method as claimed in claim15, characterized in that said graphic signs (9) are printed on saidportion (36) of sheet material. 17) A method as claimed in any one ofclaims 9 to 16, characterized in that said portion (8) of magnetic tape(8) is detached from a continuous magnetic tape (24). 18) A method asclaimed in claim 17, characterized in that said continuous magnetic tape(24) is lacquered.